Southern Sweden Design Days to take break in 2026 before 2027 return
The annual Southern Sweden Design Days festival in Malmö, Sweden, has announced that it will not hold an event in 2026, instead taking a year off to refine its format and "build on the strong foundation" it has created.
Organised by Malmö-based architecture and crafts platform Form Design Center, the design festival first launched in 2021.
In a statement, the organisation said it has decided to use the coming year as a period for "reflection and development", during which it will refine the content and format of the festival.
"Southern Sweden Design Days has helped put both Malmö and Sweden on the international design map," CEO of Form Design Center Dorte Bo Bojesen said.
"After an intense and inspiring period, it's time to look ahead and build on the strong foundation we've created."
Festival was "an important unifying force for the design industry"
The aim for next year is to strengthen Southern Sweden Design Days' role as "an international meeting place for sustainability, collaboration, development and innovation", the organisers said.
Since it launched, Southern Sweden Design Days has featured more than 840 programme activities across 220 locations, with 1,500 participants and nearly 100,000 visitors.
"Southern Sweden Design Days has become an important unifying force for the design industry," explained Terese Alstin, head of strategic development for design at Form Design Center.
"The festival fosters encounters between actors from different disciplines and drives progress through collaboration and the exchange of knowledge."
Second Swedish design festival to take 2026 break
Taking place in locations across Malmö as well as nearby suburbs, including hotels, private homes, allotments and the main Lokstallarna venue – a former railway yard – the festival showcased work by both established and emerging designers from southern Sweden.
"We want to continue developing the festival in close dialogue with the design community, while strengthening collaborations regionally, nationally and internationally," the festival's project manager Ann Isler said.
The organisers will hold a community workshop to look back on the past five years in early 2026, as well as a partner meeting to " discuss future collaborations, explore new ideas and strengthen the network that drives the festival forward".
The announcement follows the cancellation of the 2026 edition of Stockholm Design Week, which will return in 2027 as a biennial.
Previous editions of Southern Sweden Design Days have featured playful installations and circular design.
The photography is courtesy of Southern Sweden Design Days.
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